To give students and teachers enough time to spend Christmas with their families, the Department of Education (DepEd) has adjusted the school calendar to allow for an earlier and longer Christmas break.

In a directive to public and private elementary and secondary schools, Secretary Leonor Briones announced that the Christmas break for this school year will start on Dec. 15, a week earlier than the original Dec. 22 schedule.

“We have been listening to the suggestions of the Senate, the Executive, the Congress, and the parents,” said Briones on the decision to have an early Christmas break. She also emphasized the “importance for students to spend more time with their families this Christmas holiday.”

In the order, Briones said the department “values the importance of spending quality time with the family.” She added: “This Christmas season provides an opportunity for Filipino learners to strengthen their emotional bonds with their family.”

Based on the amended school calendar, Christmas vacation will officially start on Dec. 15, a Saturday. Classes will resume on Jan. 2, 2019, a Wednesday.

Briones clarified that Dec. 15 “shall remain to be a class day intended for school activities.”

Despite the adjustment, the last day of classes will still be on April 5, 2019.

Briones also directed all regions, divisions, and schools to “review the Budget of Work (BOW) on the curriculum implementation to “ensure that the required competencies are covered.”